The Bercy public ignited one last time in Bercy behind the French number one Ugo Humbert this Sunday, November 3 during the final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, a celebration brutally cut short by the express victory of the German Alexander Zverev. After 40 years of spectacle, the tournament will move to La Défense Arena in Nanterre in 2025 to begin a new chapter in its history.
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“ I always liked this room », Confessed to AFP Yannick Grumet, a manager of a clothing store who came to attend with his family the very last match in the hall in eastern Paris, before the tournament moves to La Défense Arena in Nanterre in 2025, in the largest multipurpose room in Europe. “ It’s a bit of a Davis Cup atmosphere, the public is close to the player », he appreciates. “ The staging, the sound, the light are added value to the poster », he continues, a packet of popcorn on his lap.
Because Bercy is above all a spectacle, both on the court and in the room. Before the start of the final, the spectators are plunged into darkness, for a final signature entrance show of the Parisian tournament. A few dozen meters above the court, on a giant screen, the best moments of this last week at Bercy parade, after no less than 40 years of shared history between the venue and the tournament.
Suddenly, the music sounds louder and the audience stands up to give Humbert a standing ovation as he enters the court. The tricolor number one emerges from the multicolored tunnel a few moments before Zverev. “ We wanted this edition to be a celebration and I think that is the case », Satisfies tournament director Cédric Pioline. “ In relation not only to the painting and the way in which it evolved ”, but also from the point of view of “ fervor » and “ the craze » which he observed “ throughout the week, with very attractive matches and full stands “.
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It must be said that Ugo Humbert, the first French finalist at the Masters 1000 in Paris since Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga, was the ideal player to offer a grand farewell to Bercy. Drum, tricolor wig, posters bearing the image of the left-hander from Metz: in the stands, the members of the “Blue Tribune” would not have missed the event for anything in the world. “ Humbert is a player who shows his emotions a lot, we have the impression that he is with us », enthuses Arthur Colin, student and regular at the Parisian venue.
At each break, the more than 15,000 spectators raise the sound level by chanting “ Ugo ! », punctuated by drum beats and applause. But as soon as the game resumes, the silence returns as quickly as it left, the public being stunned by the overwhelming domination of Alexander Zverev. Despite the countless Let’s go Ugo, let’s go ! », the public’s favorite bowed sharply (6-2, 6-2) after an hour and a quarter of combat against the German colossus.
Despite the result, it was cool », savors rugby star Antoine Dupont after the match. The Toulouse resident rubbed shoulders with a lot of people in the presidential stand, from the former French winner at Bercy Guy Forget to the multi-medalist Olympic swimming medalist Florent Manaudou, including PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. “ We came to encourage our little Frenchman », Antoine Dupont told AFP. “ It was hard but hey, he had a great week, we’re proud of him all the same », Congratulates the Olympic rugby sevens champion.
What can we expect from now on in terms of atmosphere in 2025? Arthur Anger, tennis fan who came to say goodbye to Bercy, “ apprehends Nanterre “. “ I’m afraid it will be a little more sanitized. (…) I only knew that. The sound is excellent, the room and the player entrance are great. It’s a beautiful spectacle. I hope it will be the same » at La Défense Arena, he concludes.